Gavin Lux Reveals He Wants to Prove Dodgers Wrong After Trade
The chip on Gavin Lux’s shoulder is noticeable.
As a Los Angeles Dodger, the infielder was known for his inability to hit left-handed pitching and he is out to prove his former employer wrong this season.
“Always, I think you have that chip on your shoulder,” said Lux.
“I think you always want to prove that you can play on the left side of the infield, you can hit lefties, whatever that chip is,” Lux added. “Every guy has a different chip. For me, I think that’s one of them.”
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A former first-round draft pick and highly-regarded prospect, Lux spent six seasons with the Dodgers, winning World Series titles in 2020 and 2024 before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a draft pick.
Lux had a feeling the Dodgers were looking to trade him once they signed Hyeseong Kim out of Korea but it still caught him off guard when it happened.
However, he is grateful for the team the Dodgers did trade him to because the Reds give him an opportunity he didn’t have with Los Angeles.
“After that signing, you’re like, ‘Oh, OK, maybe there’s a chance [I could get traded],’” Lux said.
“Obviously you still don’t really expect it after being in one place for so long. But at the same time, it is a business. They have to do what’s best for them. And I think they did me a solid by getting me to a place that has the expectation of winning. … A place where I think they think I can help.”
Moe news: Gavin Lux Appreciates Dodgers For Where They Traded Him
Funny enough, the Dodgers unintentionally had Lux matched up with three lefties when he came up to bat in Anthony Banda, Tanner Scott, and Alex Vesia.
“I need to see guys like that anyways,” Lux said. “It is funny, though, getting matched up with three lefties. It is what it is. It’s all fun.”
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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Perhaps if Lux would have had more of a “I am going to prove the Dodgers right” mentality when he was here, he might still be here. He was never the player the Dodgers hoped he would be when he came to the majors except for one brief time last summer…
Right or wrong, he’s with the Reds now. It’s probably true he never played up to what was projected for him, but I wish him well and hope he has success in Cincinnati. But not against us.
This is my second post on this subject. I said from the moment the trade happened that we would probably miss Gavin. He had an elite .899 OPS after the All-Star break last year. He was turning the corner after injury and the covid weirdness. He was ready to become the hitter we thought he would become after a stellar minor league career. And his defense was adequate, and could yet improve. When I saw him, he looked good at 2b but I recocgnize my sample size was limited.
So we we pretty much “traded” Lux for Kim. And I want Kim to succeed. He looks so talented in internet clips. But I said from the start we will never know how he does against MLB pitching until he faces it for an extended period of time. Whereas we already know Lux can hit (.899 OPS) and might yet improve, he’s young. 2B is not a position where a top team can afford to have a player who is subpar in one of the two major phases of the game.
Again, I really hope Kim can outperform what we would have gotten out of Lux, a player on the rise. I have to trust that the Dodgers can identify talent. They have been really, really good at it.